Semester
Summer
Date of Graduation
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
History
Committee Chair
Jessica Wilkerson
Committee Member
Kenneth Fones-Wolf
Committee Member
Jennifer Thornton
Committee Member
William Hal Gorby
Abstract
Immigrants from the Levant, a region of the middle east made up of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, settled in the United States in large numbers between 1890 and 1920. Many eventually decided to make Charleston, West Virginia their permanent home. When they arrived in Charleston, most Levantine immigrants worked as peddlers, selling modern wares and household goods to families that needed them. This research explains the context for this immigration wave, the important economic niche Levantine immigrants satisfied in the developing economy of southern West Virginia, and how over time Charleston’s Levantine community contributed significantly to the city’s culture.
Recommended Citation
Jacobs, George P. II, "Levantine Immigration and Community Building in Charleston, West Virginia, 1900-1930" (2023). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12156.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12156